And state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has also noted that receipts are tanking: Personal-income-tax receipts were down nearly $3 billion, or 44 percent, from May 2008. General-fund revenues dipped by nearly $4 billion, or 36 percent.

This would be difficult for any legislature to handle.

But with the Senate split 31-31, and members at each other’s throats over organizational issues, how could any power-sharing coalition survive the forces generated by such huge budget gaps?

Certainly there’s nothing to suggest that Paterson is capable of guiding the Senate through such turbulent waters — even if he were inclined to do so.

The current crisis may be over today. Sad to say, it’s more likely to last far longer — weeks, perhaps.